The Montezuma County Historical Society (MCHS) and its predecessors have been working since the 1950s to collect and preserve the cultural and natural history of this diverse county and area. Many dedicated community volunteers, past and present, have worked thousands of hours to save our history. Throughout the decades, these historical artifacts, photographs, letters, and more were publicly displayed at a number of locations across the community.

Today’s Montezuma County Historical Society was reorganized in 2001. Hundreds more historic objects and records have since been collected. Dozens of history programs and activities have been carried out, attended by area residents of all ages and tourists. A series of four county history books – Great Sage Plain to Timberline – and a vintage recipe cookbook have been published. Several years ago, the Lake Vista Grange building between Dolores and Cortez was made available at no charge to MCHS, allowing all collections to be stored in one location for the first time.

The Montezuma County Historical Society planned and worked for over five years to achieve the Montezuma Heritage Museum. In 2018, Montezuma County donated a permanent lease of a 4,800 square foot building in downtown Cortez and a major “Save Our History, Tell Our Stories” fundraising campaign successfully raised over $400,000 to renovate the museum building, develop professional exhibitions, and make this community-driven project a reality.

Creating the museum, which opened in late 2022, is the single most important step the historical society has ever taken to better achieve its mission. Today, we serve both the community and visitors to the area, allowing them to explore our rich local history through exhibits, public programs, collections research, and educational outreach.